UEFA Stop Use of 2022 St. Petersburg Champions League Final Ball
Mar 8, 2022, by John
Update: Fully confirming the switch away from the St. Petersburg design, the likes of Bayern and Liverpool trained with the group-stage ball ahead of their Champions League matches this week.
Update: As expected, UEFA have stopped the use of the St. Petersburg-branded 2021-22 Champions League final ball following the decision to move the final to Paris.
As observed by our follower Sandro in the UEFA Youth League, which was played this week, UEFA reverted to using the group-stage football after the St. Petersburg version had already been used in earlier games this month. Specifically, the group-stage football was used in the games between Manchester United and Dortmund, and PSG and Sevilla yesterday, and is expected to be used in today's games as well.
It will be interesting to see whether a dedicated new final ball will be released for the UEFA Champions League or if UEFA will take the same action as in the Youth League. The UEFA CL returns on March 8.
Original article (Feb 25, 2022): With Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine, many voices worldwide cried out against this move. Among them were also UEFA, who planned to hold the 2022 Champions League final in St. Petersburg.
Will Adidas Change the UCL Final Ball?
UEFA strongly condemned Russia's actions and met today to make the decision to remove St. Petersburg as the host city. The final is to be played on May 28, 2022, with the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, announced as the new location.
The last time a Champions League final was staged at this venue was in 2006, when Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1.
With St. Petersburg no longer hosting the 2022 Champions League final, Adidas' 2022 UCL final ball might require an aesthetic makeover.
The entire design is inspired by the Russian city, so simply printing over the inscriptions will not be enough to fully remove the St. Petersburg theme.
It is not yet clear what Adidas have planned. With several months until the Champions League final, they certainly still have the option of releasing a new ball to match the new host city.
They have no obligation to mass-produce this new model. Adidas could simply produce a small quantity of Paris-themed UCL balls that are to be used only for the final.
For reference, in 2020, when the UCL final was supposed to take place in Istanbul but was played in Porto instead, the writing and design on the ball were not altered. The current Russia situation could be cause for Adidas and UEFA to think differently on the matter, though.
The ball for the 2006 Champions League final in France featured a design with the country's iconic 'tricolore'. Perhaps Adidas could invoke similar designs if they do decide to remake the 2022 UCL final ball.
What do you think Adidas should do? Comment below.
Purple Borussia Dortmund 26-27 Third Kit Leaked
New images of the Dortmund 2026-27 third kit have been leaked. Thanks to @AaroooBVB and @NarcusBvB0.
The BVB 2026-27 3rd shirt features a purple base paired with neon yellow collar trim, yellow Puma logos, and a standard yellow and black BVB crest. tatus as a fake.
For the 26-27 season, Borussia Dortmund and Puma have already unveiled the industrial-inspired home kit and a stealthy dark anthracite away shirt featuring an abstract lightning pattern. Puma won't release a cup kit this year.
Manchester United Fans Report Quality Issues with New 26-27 Away Kit
Manchester United supporters have raised concerns over potential quality control issues with the brand-new 26-27 away kit.
Multiple fans have shared photos on social media showing fabric pulls and snagged threads developing on the new blue shirt after minimal casual wear.
Other users echoed similar complaints, noting that the knit material appears more delicate and prone to snagging than in previous seasons. While neither Adidas nor the club have officially addressed the reported defects, affected supporters who experience thread pulls are being encouraged to contact customer support or return defective shirts through official stockists for refunds or replacements.
Portsmouth 26-27 Away Kit Revealed
Portsmouth FC has officially launched its new away kit for the 26-27 season, manufactured by Nike. The design revives the club's traditional yellow and blue look, featuring a vibrant yellow base highlighted by royal blue trim on the collar, sleeve cuffs, and side striping, alongside matching blue logos and sponsor details.
No More Joma: Adidas Anderlecht 26-27 Away Kit Released
Belgian club RSC Anderlecht and Adidas have officially launched the club's away kit for the 26-27 season. Marking Adidas' return as the club's official technical supplier, the new strip features the iconic Adidas Trefoil logo on the right chest, giving the jersey a distinct vintage look.
The Anderlecht 26-27 away jersey features an off-white base paired with the club's signature purple accents. A solid purple collar and sleeve cuffs give the shirt a clean retro style, complemented by purple Three Stripes along the shoulders. The RSC Anderlecht crest sits on the left chest, with the Sunweb sponsor logo printed across the chest in matching purple.
The classic look is completed with off-white shorts and socks featuring purple details. The release commemorates the 50th anniversary of Anderlecht's first European title won in 1976 while inaugurating the new multi-year partnership with Adidas.
Bristol City 26-27 Third Kit Released
Bristol City and O'Neills have officially launched the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Completing the Robins' strip lineup for the upcoming campaign alongside the previously revealed home and away shirts, the new kit introduces a dark and stylish aesthetic.
The Bristol City 26-27 third shirt is predominantly black, complemented by vibrant red accents throughout. It features a classical polo collar edged with thin red piping, a single red button, and a recoloured red and black club crest on the chest. The O'Neills logo and primary shirt sponsor, Victorian Plumbing, are both rendered in red to complete the monochrome design. Additional details include custom neck tape featuring the motto Always Believe along the inside collar, as well as subtle tonal detailing on the sleeve cuffs.
The new third strip is available immediately through the official club shop.
Portsmouth 26-27 Away Kit Released
Portsmouth and Nike have officially unveiled the new Portsmouth FC 26-27 away kit, returning to a classic yellow and blue color scheme for the upcoming season. The new kit was revealed on July 28, 2026, following the earlier launch of the club's home kit.
The Nike Portsmouth 26-27 away shirt features a vibrant yellow base paired with rich royal blue detailing. Blue accents line the collar, sleeve cuffs, and side paneling, while all chest elements—including the Nike Swoosh, club crest, and University of Portsmouth sponsor - appear in matching blue.
Drawing inspiration from iconic Pompey away kits of the past, the design offers a clean look that celebrates club tradition. The full 26-27 away strip becomes available to purchase online starting Wednesday, July 29.
Brisbane Roar 2026 Australia Cup Kit Released
Brisbane Roar and manufacturer Kelme have officially revealed the club's new kit for the 2026 Australia Cup and pre-season fixtures. Marking a return to a classic orange and black colorway, the shirt features a subtle tonal striped pattern throughout the body, complemented by a black polo collar and dark side panelling. The club crest, manufacturer branding, and sponsor details are all styled in black, while a light pink goalkeeper jersey has also been launched alongside the main kit as part of the limited-edition collection.
VfL Osnabrück 26-27 Home Kit Released
German club VfL Osnabrück and supplier Capelli Sport have officially launched the club's new home shirt for the 26-27 season. Reinterpreting Osnabrück's traditional purple-and-purple striped style inspired by the iconic 1980s Feistel kit, the jersey features a geometric tone-on-tone pattern formed by hatched rhomboids aligned at a 60-degree angle to mirror the club's crest. White sleeves reference classic 1990s designs, paired with a white V-neck collar, white Capelli shoulder cubes, and main sponsor Thomas Philipps across the chest.
Designer Marcus Dilley Creates 2026 MLS All-Star Logo
Former Adidas designer and founder of DilleyStudio, Marcus Dilley (@MDill38), is the creative mind behind the official 2026 MLS All-Star wordmark and crown logo featured throughout the event in Charlotte.
Dilley, who has collaborated on Major League Soccer design projects since 2016 and previously worked on the Columbus Crew branding, created the circular crest featuring prominent crown iconography and city-specific typography for this year's midsummer showcase.
Sunderland 26-27 Home Kit Released - Celebrating 1937 FA Cup Triumph
Sunderland AFC and Hummel have officially unveiled the club's new home kit for the 26-27 season. Drawing heavy inspiration from the club's legendary 1936-37 FA Cup-winning side, the kit blends traditional Sunderland heritage with vintage design flourishes to honor one of the defining moments in the club's history.
The 26-27 home jersey features Sunderland's iconic red and white vertical stripes, complimented by a classic white polo collar and a neat buttoned placket. Within the white stripes, Hummel has integrated a subtle tonal jacquard pattern inspired by the ornate filigree engravings on the FA Cup trophy.
Key heritage details appear throughout the shirt. On the chest, the modern Sunderland crest is housed within an era-inspired shield surround. The outer back of the neck features a special red emblem showcasing the city crest worn in 1937 alongside a 1936-37 inscription, while the inside collar lists the names of the starting eleven players from that historic Wembley victory.
The new home shirt is launched without a main front-of-shirt sponsor, offering a ultra-clean aesthetic for supporters. The full kit is available online and in physical store locations starting July 29.